×

ICC World Cup: Bumrah, Siraj strike first ball to dismiss Sri Lankan openers for golden duck, India in control

Three of Sri Lanka's top-four were dismissed without scoring

India's Mohammed Siraj celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne | AP

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who took the new ball, struck first ball to put India in the driving seat against Sri Lanka in the ICC World Cup 2023 on Thursday. While Bumrah removed Pathum Nissanka in the first ball of the innings, his opening partner Dimuth Karunaratne fell before Siraj in the first ball of the over that followed. 

It was a nightmare for Sri Lanka as Nissanka was trapped LBW by Bumrah. The Wankhade crowd erupted as the review refused to overturn the umpire's decision and settled for 'Umpire's Call'. Two runs came from the over as Bumrah bowled two back-to-back wide deliveries on the leg side following the wicket.

To the horror of the islanders, Karunaratne was ruled LBW in the first ball of Siraj's spell. The following ball, the in-form Sadeera Samarawickrama was given marching orders by the umpire after Team India appealed for caught behind. Samarawickrama quickly challenged the decision and the DRS ruled in favour of the batting side this time.

However, the relief only lasted two balls as Samarawickrama was caught by Shreyas Iyer at slip. The Indian speedster started the game with a wicket maiden as no run was scored in the following ball either. 

Pathum Nissanka is dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah | Reuters

The following over Bumah yielded just one run before Siraj clean-bowled Kusal Mendis for just 1 run in 10 balls. This brought the experienced Angelo Mathews to the middle. Siraj looked on course to record a second straight wicket maiden before Mathews found a boundary in the last ball to take the score to 7/4. 

ICC WORLD CUP 2023: SRI LANKAN TOP-ORDER VS INDIAN SEAMERS:

 Batter                               Dismissal                                      Runs  Balls

Pathum Nissanka                 -- lbw b Jasprit Bumrah                    0       1

Dimuth Karunaratne             -- lbw b Mohammed Siraj                 0       1

Kusal Mendis                       -- b Mohammed Siraj                       1       10

Sadeera Samarawickrama     -- c Shreyas lyer b Mohammed Siraj   0       4

Stay tuned to The Week for more updates.